Chattanooga, Tenn. - Down but not out, the Jackson Generals staged a four-run rally over the eighth and ninth innings of Tuesday night's contest to force extra innings with the Chattanooga Lookouts.
Chattanooga, Tenn. - Down but not out, the Jackson Generals staged a four-run rally over the eighth and ninth innings of Tuesday night's contest to force extra innings with the Chattanooga Lookouts.
For the visitors, the comeback would be halted prematurely, as the Lookouts claimed a 9-8 win in ten innings at AT&T Field. The loss is the third straight for Jackson (19-12), marking the first time they've dropped three contests in a row this year.
Left-hander Alex Young started and delivered his highest pitch count of the year, but he was only able to work through five innings, giving way to the Generals' bullpen early on. Michael Dimock took his place, becoming the first of three relievers to allow runs to the Chattanooga (19-12) offense. Yoan López followed and struggled in the seventh, but he fired scoreless eighth and ninth innings keep the Generals within striking distance of the lead. Kirby Bellow (3-1, 0.84 ERA) allowed the unearned game-winning run.
Newly arrived Daniel Robertson got off to a strong start with Jackson, going 2-for-6 in his first start in center field. Galli Cribbs Jr. contributed a right-on-time three-run triple to stretch his total to a league-leading six three-baggers, but Kevin Medrano also featured significantly in the extended evening. Medrano finished 4-for-6 with two runs scored, a double, and a team-best 21st RBI, ratcheting his average up to .372. And yet, those efforts proved insufficient, as the Generals went 5-for-21 with runners in scoring position, left 11 men on base, and made two errors, including one that ended the game.
TOP PERFORMERS - Generals
2B Kevin Medrano - 4-6, 2B, RBI
3B Juniel Querecuto - 2-4, RBI
TOP PERFORMERS - Chattanooga
3B Chris Paul - 4-5, 3 R, 2 2B, RBI, BB
DH TJ White - 2-4, 2 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
TOP 9: Entering their last at-bat down by three runs, the Generals get a leadoff double from Medrano, and Jamie Westbrook is hit by a pitch two batters later to put men on first and second. A wild pitch to the next hitter puts the runners in scoring position, and then a triple by Galli Cribbs-his first hit of the night-brings the Generals within a run at 7-8. Juniel Querecuto is able to send a fly ball deep enough to score Cribbs, and the game is tied, as the Generals equal their largest comeback of the year so far.
SCORE: CHA 8, JXN 8
BOTTOM 10: Kirby Bellow comes on in place of Yoan Lopez to end the game. Bellow gets the first two outs without allowing a ball to leave the infield, helped by some nifty glovework from Juniel Querecuto. The Generals end up walking the bases loaded to get to left-handed hitter Alex Perez, and everything goes to plan, right up until it doesn't. Perez hits another ball in the infield, but this time the Generals cannot handle the throw to first, ending the contest in a tough-to-swallow fashion.
SCORE: CHA 9, JXN 8
NEXT GAME:
6:15pm CT Wednesday (5/9) at AT&T Field (Chattanooga, TN)
RHP Taylor Widener (JXN-0-1, 3.42 ERA) vs. RHP Omar Bencomo (CHA-1-0, 2.01 ERA)
NEXT GENERALS HOMESTAND:
May 12-16 vs. Mississippi Braves
Featuring: Game Of Thrones Night (Saturday, May 12)
Dial 731-988-5299 for tickets to see Jackson Generals Baseball!
